(from the Sea Scout Manual, pg 12)
Your local Boy Scouts of America council grants an annual charter to community organizations
– businesses, industries, unions, school, churches, and other civic groups – to operate packs, troops, teams, crews and ships. The chartered organization agrees to secure adult leaders, program support, and meeting locations. All adult leaders must be approved by the charted organization. The head of the charted organization appoints a chartered organization representative to supervise its Scouting units. He or she is responsible for the recruiting the ship committee and other adult leaders. The chartered organization representative is a voting member of the BSA local council and may serve on the Ship Committee as chair or member.
(from the Sea Scout Manual, pg 3 and 13-1)
The ship committee is appointed by the chartered organization. Although a ship may register with a minimum of three committee members, it should have at least five or six active ones.
They are responsible for the selection of the adult leaders and for the general program support of the ship.
The ship committee represents the organization that sponsors the ship and is responsible to that organization for what happens in the unit. In order to carry out its duties, the committee should meet monthly. For the most part, the committee depends on the Skipper for information concerning ship plans, progress, and needs. Working through the Skipper, the committee assists the ship members in carrying out their activities.
The Ship Committee duties in brief:

Selects and recruits the Skipper and Mates.

Provides facilities for the ship meeting place and for activities.

Helps obtains supplies and equipment.

Supervises and audits ship funds and property.

Conducts annual program capability inventory

Maintains liaison with the chartered organization.

Sees that the ship operates in accordance with the policies and standards of the
 chartered organization and the Boy Scouts of America.

Responsible for annual rechartering process.
(from the Sea Scout Manual, pg 3)
Sea Scouts have a vast reservoir of experts at their disposal for program support. Many times they do not use these people to help solve many of their problems. Those who provide specialized help are called consultants. They may come from inside the ship or community.
A consultant is someone whose special skill or knowledge, equipment or facilities, or contacts can help your ship. He or she may serve briefly for a single event or for a longer period to supplement the skipper. At no time does the consultant take the Skipper’s place.

A
or otherwise known as a
is a Sea Scout adult leader who is
21 years and older.
or otherwise known as
are youth leaders not yet 21 years old. An example would be a youth who has earned the rank of
Quartermaster.
(from the Sea Scout Manual, pg 10-12)
The Skipper is the key officer of the Sea Scout ship.
Picture yourself not as an awesome figure issuing orders, but rather as the kind of person who serves as an advisor, a friend, and a counselor to Sea Scouts. You give direction to the ship program while carrying out your most important duty- advising and coaching the petty officers as they plan, organize, and conduct the activities if the ship.
To be a Skipper, you must be at least 21 years old, a citizen or permanent resident of the
United States, and be approved by your charted organization and the Boy Scouts of America.
You must accept the BSA Declaration of Religious Principle and be of high moral character. All adult positions in Venturing my be held by men or women.
You make your significant effort behind the scene. Yet, you must be a leader. On the quarterdeck, you coach and give leadership to your petty officers and activities chairs. You work closely with the boatswain. The greater your knowledge and skill, the better a leader you will be.
responsibilities in brief:

Leader of all officers.

Attends all quarterdeck, ship, and activities meetings.

Gives direct leadership to ship program planning.

Attends ship committee meetings

Keep informed.

Shows personal interest in all members.
(from the Sea Scout Manual, pg 12)
A Mate must be 21 years old and have a keen interest in Sea Scouting. As a person of ability and character matching that of the Skipper, the mate has very important assignments in addition to being ready to take over when the Skipper is absent.
When the ship has more than one Mate, they may be designated as first, second, and third mates etc, by the ship committee upon the recommendation of the Skipper.
Where there is more than one Mate, each should have certain assigned Senior Officer responsibilities.

Responsibilities include

Maintain and Update teaching outline packet.

Insure that training equipment and supplies are ready and complete.
 Arranges special presentations for ship’s crew in accordance with meeting programs
–such as First Aid, CPR, Sailing, Drill, Navigation, Youth Protection and etc.

Conducts training programs where competent.
 Maintains Advancement Records of ships’ crew.

Helps arrange Apprentice and Ordinary Review Boards.

Advises Bosun Mates on training needs and meeting program schedules.

Supervises one or more other junior officers.

Assumes Officer of the Deck on Cruises.
Responsibilities include:

Keeps inventory of ship equipment, gear, tools, parts and repair/construction supplies.

Maintains organization of stores, boxes, and shelving. All containers labeled.

Insures that all gear, tools, equipment, and etc are secured in correct location after meeting and activities.

Informs Skipper of needs for maintaining or replacing of ships stores, gear, equipment, parts, or supplies.
 Maintains and issues uniforms, hats, manual, and patches to ship’s crew.

Advises the Ship’s crew Storekeeper

Supervisors one or more Junior Mates in these areas.

Acts as Officer of the Deck on cruises.
Responsibilities include:

Maintains good public relations with our sponsor and community. Writes, collects, submits, and distributes articles for the local news paper and ship’s newsletters.

Maintains and updates ship’s web site.

Ensures Ships Meeting Log and Cruise Log are complete. – Assist training for
Ordinary advancement requirement.

Ensures pictures, movies and presentations of ship activities are complete.

Ensures Watch and Bell Time is properly carried out during meetings and cruises.

Oversees operation of Radio other communication equipment.

Obtains marine radio operators license.

Obtains ship radio license and # ’s.

Assist training for Quartermaster advancement requirement.

Oversees operation of Semaphore and Morse Code and maintains associated equipment.

Oversees operation of International Flag Code - Assist training for Quartermaster advancement requirement.

Advises the Ship’s crew Yoeman.


Supervisors one or more Junior Mates in these areas.

Acts as Officer of the Deck on cruises.
Responsibilities include:
 Maintains ship’s financial report of income and expenses.

Oversees fundraising projects, receipt of donations, and sale of surplus equipment.

Obtains and maintains non-profit, charitable status with IRS.
 Works closely with sponsor’s treasure.

Advises the Ship’s crew Purser.

Supervisors one or more Junior Mates in these areas.

Acts as Officer of the Deck on cruises.
Responsibilities include:

Oversees ship’s super activities that are an unusual weekend or log cruise event.

Coordinates year round new member recruitment and First Nighter.
 Advises the Ship’s crew Bosun Mate.

Supervisors one or more Junior Mates in these areas.

Acts as Officer of the Deck on cruises.
Responsibilities include:





Maintains necessary USCG license for operating the training boat.
Oversees maintenance, repair and operation of engineering spaces.
Advises the Ship’s crew Bosun.
Supervisors one or more Junior Mates in these areas.
Acts as Officer of the Deck on cruises.
Responsibilities include:

Maintains necessary USCG license for operating the training boat.

Oversees maintenance, repair and operation of deck spaces.
 Advises the Ship’s crew Bosun.

Supervisors one or more Junior Mates in these areas.

Acts as Officer of the Deck on cruises.
Responsibilities include:

Oversees the scheduling and organization of social events such as dances,
Halloween party, parent’s night out and Quartermaster’s Ball.

Provides direction regarding the healthy morale and welfare of the ship.

Concerned with the social responsibility to the community and services projects.

Concerned with the perception of our ship with regards to other ships.

Organizes snack, meals, drinks and personal conveniences.
 Advises the Ship’s crew Bosun Mate.

Supervisors one or more Junior Mates in these areas.

Acts as Officer of the Deck on cruises.

Please remember that " basic training " for Sea Scout leaders is comprised of the following three sessions:
1. New Leader Essentials Training
2. Venturing Leader Specific Training
3. Sea Scout Officers' Specialized Training
If you have not yet completed New Leader Essentials Training and/or Venturing Leader
Specific Training, please check with your local council for upcoming trainings. Completion of the basic training series is required for individuals earning the Skipper's Key Award or the
Sea Scouter's Training Award and Ships earning the National Quality Unit Award or the
Local, Regional, or National Standard Award .
Completion of the basic training series is also a prerequisite for those attending Seabadge training. Seabadge is offered by the Northeast Region once a year.
Seabadge is the official advanced training program of Sea Scouting in the BSA. The course is designed to provide the program specific management techniques that can improve the quality of the ships' programming. It is an intensely participatory experience for the participants as they interact with one another and the faculty in seminars, workshops, role playing and discussions. The concepts are presented by veteran Sea Scouting leaders who will serve as the faculty for the course. At the same time, you will learn methods on how best to expand the program to allow more of our young people to be served in our communities.
Seabadge participants will be selected from nominees recommended by their local councils.
Any registered Sea Scouting leader who is active in the operations of their ship or council is eligible.
The requirements are:
 has completed Adult Venturing Leader Basic Training and Sea Scout Officer
Specialized Training;
 has actively served in their current registered position in or related to Sea Scouting for at least 1 continuous year;
 is approved for participation by their local council.
Application are available from your local council office, the Northeast Region office, or by clicking here , and must be postmarked no later that September 1, 2006. This event is expected to fill early! A waiting list will be maintained.